Removable shoe pad construction



April 30, 1957 w. c. BURNS A REMOVABLE SHOE PAO CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 6, 1955 United States Patent 2,790,254 REMOVABLE SHOE PAD CONSTRUCTION william c. Bums, sana Ana, cant. Application December 6, 195s, ser-iai No. 551,346 s claims. (ci. .a6- 71) The present invention relates generally to a removable pad construction for use in shoes, and more particularly to a pad construction designed to provide a weight distributing element which brings about a desired distribution of the body weight onto -those portions of the foot structure which are best adapted to carry this weight.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 471,753 led November 29, 1954 now abandoned for the same subject.

The structure of the human foot is such that the weight of the body should not be carried directly on the arch which is raised to avoid such carrying of weight. The body weight should be carried along the outside of the foot with a large share of the weight upon portions of the foot just forward of the heel and immediately behind the ball of the foot, the ball the metatarsal-phalangeal joints. When the weight is so distributed, the circulation of blood in the foot is free and normal, themuscles of the foot function and develop in the proper manner, and there is no undue pressure upon the joints. However when body weight is partly carried upon the metatarsal or arch area of the foot, the pressure on the underside ofthe arch results in undue restriction of the blood circulation and often causes stretching of the ligaments in the arch with a resultant weakening of the structure of the foot.

Accordingly, it is a general object of my invention to provide a removable pad construction adapted to be used within an ordinary shoe which brings about a desirable distribution of weight with respect to the foot structure.

It is also an object of the present invention to take the weight olf the arch and to distribute more of the weight onto the outside marginal area of the foot between the heel and the ball of the foot with as much weight as possible removed from the heel and ball of the foot.

A further object of my invention is to straighten up the ankle which has a tendency to turn in when the arch is weak or at.

lt is another object of my invention to provide means for holding the removable pad in proper position relative to the foot and prevent the pad from creeping because of the horizontally directed forces applied by normal walking.

l achieve these objects of my invention by providing a pad structure which underlies most of the foot and includes elevated portions adapted to underlie specific areas being the area beneath outside portion of the foot. Other elevated portions of the pad structure are provided to receive this weight and none of the body weight is actually carried on the raised arch portion of the foot.

Among these other elevated portions is One in the heel area below the cuboid and forward of the os calcis. The rear edge of this elevated area rises abruptly to provide a shoulder facing rearwardly to engage the os calcis. This engagement prevents the foot from moving forwardly relative to the pad, and holds the pad in proper position with its elevated portions under the desired areas of the foot.

This invention may be considered as being an improvement on the shoe pad structures described and claimed in my earlier issued Patents Nos. 2,287,341, issued January 23, 1942 and 2,434,258, issued January 13, 1948.

How the above and other objects of my invention, as well as others not specifically mentioned herein, areI attained will be better understood by reference to the following description and to Ithe attached drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the upper side of a removable pad member constructed according to the present invention, the particular pad illustrated being one adapted foruse under the' right foot;

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the pad member with the two side cushions bent to project out sideways;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section thereof i i taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary Vertical longitudinal section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing in elevation the elevated portions of the pad immediately forward of the plane of the section;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the insert which lies along the i inner edge of the pad; and

Figs. 8, 9 and l0 are, respectively, transverse crosssections of the insert of Fig. 7, taken in the planes of lines 8 8, 9 9 and 10 10 of that figure.

of the foot to receive weight from these areas. Another Referring now to the drawings, and especially to Figs. 1 and 2, the body of the removable pad structure is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a posterior or heel portion 11 and a front or anterior portion 12 which tapers in thickness at the frontal margin to a thin forward edge 13. The length of pad 10 is established with reference to the foot of the user so that anterior portion 12 lies immediately behind the so called ball of the foot, that is, the muscular pad beneath the metatarsal-phalangeal joints. Likewise, the width of the removable pad 10 is determined by reference to the users foot to be substantially the same width as the foot.` It preferably ts snugly within the shoe to prevent lateral shifting relative to the foot.

In accordance with the general teachings of my earlier issued Patents Nos. 2,287,341 and 2,434,258, mentioned above, I show pad 10 as provided with a plurality of elevations formed by thickened which are adapted to underlie certain designated zones or areas of the users foot and to cooperate in securing a desired weight distribution.

The areas in question are thickened portions of pad 10 and are referred to as elevated areas since they rise above -seen `from the underside of the pad. Accordingly the underside of a new pad is shown in Fig. 2. It is to be portions of the pad structurev and theforward portion of the os calcis,Y the general'locaf tion being taught in my patents referred to above. Onthe' opposite side ofpad from area 14or at the inner side ofthe footI provide in heel portion 11 a` complementary elevated area lwhich along its outer edge rises to a greater height than area 14.

Padflltas a whole is constructed of at leastan upper lay er18v and a lower'layer 1`9Aof-shect material such-'fasi leatherorfabric.. Preferably there is also an intermediate layer 20; and there may be more than one intermediate layer.y The .several layers are cemented togetherwhere` they overlieeach other. The material'for each layerrnay be chosento provide a particular characteristic; and 'it is not necessary all .layers be of the Vsame materiali vthough I` prefer to use leather of different kindsfor all layers.

Betwee'ntwo. of the layers are inserted bodies of cork or othercomparativelytrm but resilient material; to form theyelevated areasrincluding.thoserat 14 and 15. Thus in Fig.A 6,the body 14a .of cork is seen between layers'Y 18Vv and 20 to form elevation 14. The section 6-6 is taken to showfthe rear edge 14b of cork body 14a.VA The rear face 14-b. is vertical, or nearly so, and -has awidth sub:-vv

stantiallyequal to the full thicknessof insert 14a. This edge provides an abrupt and definite lshoulder inpad 10.,y

The shoulder faces rearwardly and is so'located as to lie immediatelygin front of the os calcis. The area onpad- 10 where Vthe os calcis normally bears is within the'dotted outline 22. As a result, the shoulder engages the foot anteriorly of the osvcalcis in a manner that prevents relative rearward movement of the pad or forward movement of the foot. This engagement 'anchors the entire pad in place against any tendency to creep or become displacedas a .result of the horizontally directedrforcesv apthe proper position beneath the foot where it'can function effective/ly. Y Y i The insert 15a forming elevated area 1S tapers inwardlyv and rearwardly toa narrow edge. It slopes upwardly toa maximum height at its outer edge.V Area 15 is relocated from the showing in my issued patents as` it plied to itduring normal. walking. The pad is always inv extends all the way hackl to the rear edge of pad 10 in g the heelportion 11 and extends inwardly to near the area 22 ofbearing of the os calcis.

The twoLarcasl 14 and 15 cooperate to anchor thel heelrlof the users'foot in place relative to the pad, as'rthe slopev of area 15. directs the heel to a position behind the;

shoulder on raised area 14."

Immediately behindithe anterior portion 12 of the: pad, I preferito provide.- an elevatedA area 26 which 'isad'aptedf to underlie the forward end of the second, third, fourth.l

and fifth ,'metatarsals, posteriorly of the metatarsalphalangeal joints.; The thickened portion 26 tapers: gradually inwardlyand rearwardly in thickness from the for- Ward and lateral edges of pad 1b. The elevated portion y is of maximumY thickness at forward inside corner 2612. At the inner, end 26a, and along therear curved edge, this elevatedv portion .is thinnest, preferably blending smoothly Withltheportion ofthe. pad consisting only of layers 18z ,K

19, an,d2.0. HElevated area 26 tapers from front to rear,

beingthicker along its forward edge as shownin Figfi.,l

By being thicker at the front edge, this elevated area takes.,4

weight otf the rne'tatarsals and givesv more use of the toes. i i' I v The pad is also provided with a relatively narrcm/,v

elongated elevated portion 28 which connects at its reari-,

end to and'is continuous with raised portion V15.V `*In Apractice, none continuous insert is used forllboth` elevated areasand it is of` generally triangularV form in'Y cross'- section, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 and as more particularly shown in Figs. 7to l0, following the contour of the inner edge of the padand hence of the shoe to which it is fitted, and having its apex 28b at substantially uniform altitude with respect to its base 28C throughout the major portion of its length but of gradually decreasing altitude as it merges with andforms the portion 15. It will be noted, moreover, as hereinbefore stated, that where thisaltitude is decreased in the portion lithere is a gradual shelving and widening of the inner side 15b, and of the base 15C, where such side is skived off to blend with the adjacent heel portions of the p ad. Ridge portion 28 extends forwardly to terminate under the rst metatarsal posteriorly ofV the-first metatar-sal-phalangeal joint. Thus there is formed a continuous raised portion in the pad extending along the lateral margin of the pad at the inner side of the foot. This raised portion serves to raisethe inner side of the foot, thus tending to shift' the body weight to the outer side of the foot.where;it; should properly be, and it is effective, furthermore, to equalize the weight on the great toe joint. It also makes moreefective the elevated portion.15 under the `heel, andin cooperation with area 15 provides an elevated ,area forA thefull length of the foot -posteriorly of'the first metatarsal joint. The elevated portion 28 formed by the inserted body 28a, Fig. 3, slopes steeply `downwardly' and inwardly on its upper side or base ZScand is yhighest at the side of the arch of the foot where there are no cords, arteries, or nerves to be interfered with. Moreover, portion 28,assists in holding the foot upright in the shoe and in holding the ankle straight. This portion 28 slopes much more steeply than the element in a similar position in my earlier patents. The slope is purposely made so stee'pvthat this area does not act as an arch support and carry' weight under the arch but, as hereinbefore stated,

tends toholdthe foot against the outer side of` the shoe and presses sideways against the arch to oppose and correct the inward turningrof the ankle found withmany weakarches. Children are often handicapped by weak foot structures so that the ankle rolls in, breaking down the larch and caursingfiat feet. This pad structure is designed to restore the ankle to its proper position.

It is to be understood that the elevated portions vasA describedrabove are considered to be typical of a weightdistributing pad construction `according to the present inventim.l The extent and thickness of these elevated, portions are not necessarily uniform in all pads but may be variedpto t different feet or changing `conditions ina particular foot. Y Other locations` of one or more elevated portions adapted for other specific weight-distributing effects may be added within the scope of myinvention.

Atthe lateral edge of thepad structure, just rearwardly of the. fifth metatarsal-phalangeal joint,Y there isan-upwardly extendingcushion member 3G which is adapted to hear against the muscle structure which Ycovers .the-- Cushion memberl portionV 28,. there is provided an upwardly extending cushion-lmeniber32 which is adapted to bear against the side of the footvat the Vupper portion of the metatarsal 4arch ,andunder theankle bone. This cushion memberis thickestatjts central portion where'the arch is normally farthest, away from the` shoe and `then tapers-to 'a relatively thin feathered margin along the free edges not -attachedto pad .10. l 'I he .connection between cushion and pad is flexible in nature so that the cushion may readily adapt itself to conform to the wearers foot.

Cushion member 32 is made of one or two layers of leather to produce a maximum thickness of perhaps 1/s" which decreases toward the edges of the cushion. The cushion should be flexible but relatively non-compressible, otherwise it does not exert the required lateral force against the foot. Cushion member 32 is located entirely at one side of the foot below the ankle, in order to straighten up the ankle. It is designed to engage the side of the foot to position the ankle and in no way lifts or supports the under surface of the foot at the arch thereof.

When confined within the wearers shoe, particularly if the shoe is tightly laced, cushion 32 presses against the inner side of the foot at a position below the ankle. For most satisfactory results the cushion is located posteriorly of the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint and anteriorly of the tarsus. Lateral pressure by the cushion prevents the foot from turning or rolling inwardly and thus takes weight olf of the arch. As hereinbefore stated, contact of the foot upon a firm, steeply slanting surface of ridge 28 at the side of the arch causes the foot to shift outwardly because of the slope of the underside of the foot at the arch. Both cushion 32 and ridge 28 bear against the foot in a manner to cause this lateral movement; and these two elements of the pad structure cooperate to cause the foot to shift to a weight distributing position in which the weight is chiefly supported on the outside of the foot, principally on the portions of the foot which bear on elevations 14 and 26. For this purpose the steeply sloping surface of ridge 28 engaged by the foot preferably makes an angle of about 35 or more with the horizontal. Weight is still carried on the ball of the foot, but less than without this shoe pad. Cushion 32 and elevations 14 and 26 are preferably made of a thickness determined by the individual users foot in order to secure the best weight distribution. in general, the elevations 14 and 26 and cushion 32 are made as thick as possible since the thicker these three elements are made, the more weight is carried on elevations 14 and26.

A further function of side cushions 30 and 32 is to Y hold the pad structure in the proper position under the foot. These cushions engage the sides of the foot and the shoe and hold the pad against lateral displacement from its proper location beneath the foot. The rearward slope of elevation 25 cooperates with both the side cushions to hold the pad 10 in place under the foot.

Cushion 3l) is an active part of the combination of elements. It bears against the lateral face of the foot behind the little toe. It serves to keep the foot from spreading but leaves the toe free to flex normally while walking. The ability of the toes to move freely and naturally, together with the distribution of the weight to those locations where the foot is structurally best able to support that weight, promotes better blood circulation and prevents stretching of the cords and ligaments in the foot. The result is a stronger foot in which the muscles are better developed and which is free from many common pains and discomforts.

To avoid a thick front edge on the pad, not all of layers 18, 19, and extend forwardly for the full length of the pad. It is preferable to extend only the upper one for the full distance, as seen in Fig. 4, to provide a smooth upper surface to the pad. The lower layer 19 ends at the curved line 34 which is about 1A" or more rearwardly of the front edge 13 of top layer 18. The intermediate layer 20 ends between the other two layers to` form a smoothly tapered marginal portion.l As 'mentioned before, the length of the pad is established by the length of the users foot. The anterior portion 12 of the pad is smooth and free from elevated areas .to permit this part of pad 10 to extend as close as possible to the ball of the foot. By graduating the length of the layers of the pad, the thickness at the front end is gradually reduced without relying entirely upon tapering or skiving the individual layers though that may be done too. The thin forward end is very soft and flexible so that it does not irritate the foot of the user. Consequently it is possible to extend the pad farther forward or closer to the ball of the foot than heretofore possible with a thick pad.

It should be understood that modifications in the structure described above may occur to persons skilled in the art, but without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is considered to be illustrative of, rather than limitative upon, the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a removable pad structure for use in a shoe in contact with the users foot, a pad body adapted to underlie the foot posteriorly of the metatarsal-phalangeal joints, a continuous elongated element of substantially triangular form in cross-section applied to the body at and extending along its inner edge to formin the body a raised portion underlying the lateral edge of the metatarsal arch of Y the users foot, a forward portion of said continuous elongated'element'lying in that zone of the foot comprising the first phalangeal and the iirst metatarsal bones, the rear portion thereof extending into and including the zone of the os calcis, a rst cushion member upstanding from said body at the inner lateral margin thereof substantially midway of the length of said elongated element and lying in the zone of the first matatarsal and cuneiform bones and flanking the joint between said bones,

and thus being adapted to bear against the inner side of the foot in the zone of the metatarsal arch, said cushion member serving with said elongated element to urge the foot toward the outer side of the shoe, and a second upwardly extending cushion member arranged at the outer lateral margin of said pad body, said second cushion member being adapted to ,bear against the muscle structure adjacent to the forward portion of the fth metatarsal. Y

2. A removable pad as claimed in claim 1 in which the cushion member is-of relativelythin construction'fand may ex upon its connection at the edge ofthe body in abutting surfaces of the foot and shoe.-

3. A removable pad structure'as claimed. in claimv l',

in which the body is provided at its-heely portion with a member providing upon the foot-contacting face ofl said body an elevated element underlying the cuboid region of the foot and having a rearwardly facing relatively abrupt shoulder for engagement by the os calcis to retain the pad against displacement.

4. A removable pad structure as Yclaimed in claim l, in which said continuous substantially triangular element is of approximately uniform altitude throughout its major portion which extends in proximity to the arch of the foot and is of gradually reduced altitude from said majorV portion to its rear end which lies adjacent to the heel of the foot.

5. A removable pad structure as claimed in claim 1, in which the said rst named cushion member is located posteriorly of the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint and anteriorly of the tarsus.

VReferences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Burns 7.--- Jan, 13, 1948 Y 'l 

